Bust support



July 22, 1930.

M. F. J. LOWENFELD BUST SUPPORT Filed Jan. 30, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1July 22, 1930. M. F. J. LOWENFELD BUST SUPPORT 2 Shets-Sheet 2 FiledJan. 50/ 1929 K7 fliQ/W WWW- Patented July 22, 1930 MARGARET FRANCESJANE LOWENFELD, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

BUST SUPPORT Application filed January 30, 1929, Serial No. 336,261, andin Great Britain February 7, 1928 This invention is for improvements inor relating to bust supports and has for one of its objects to providefor the requisite sup-- port to be given to the bust without relyingupon a simple compression of the breasts as is usual in existing bustsupports. For many reasons, this application of pressure is undesirable,and even injurious, and the bust support according to the presentinvention is free m from these objections. In order to overcome thisobjection, it has previously been proposed to provide a bust support inwhich the weight or a portion of the weight of each breast was supportedsling fashion from the s opposite shoulder, and it has also been proposed to provide a bust support comprising two breast supports and twoshoulder straps each of which Was attached to both breast supports.

According to the present invention there is provided a bust support,comprising two breast supports, a pair of shoulder straps, andconnections between each shoulder strap and both breast supports, eachof which contu nections includes a running loop arranged to distributethe support afiorded by the appropriated shoulder strap to both breastsupports, and which connections are so arranged that the weight, or aportion of the to weight, of each breast is supported sling fashion fromthe opposite shoulder, so that the garment will be self-adjusting so asto afford the requisite support in both the upward and inward directionswithout compressin the t5 breasts. This diagonal support which isoffered to the breast is desirable for the reason, among others, thatthe human breasts when they swell, due to the accumulation of milk, orfor other reasons, do not merely extend further vertically downwards butextend on lines which diverge downwardly. That is to say, the breasts,as they enlarge, reach further downwards and further lat-erally outwardsto the sidesof the body. Hence, a diagonal support from the oppositeshoulder will substantially correspond with the direction of thismovement of the breast and will oifer the support in the most eficientfashion.

Tn one arrangement the breast support (which, for example isroughly-triangular in shape) covers one reast only and reachesdiagonally across underneath the other breast to support a part or thewhole of the weight thereof. In another arrangement, one breast supportis formed with a slit adjacent to its top through Which the top of theother breast support reaches.

The bust support may comprise a body girdle to which both breastsupports are secured at their bottom edges or the breast supports may beformed by upward extensions of a corset or like garment.

In order that these and other features of the present invention may bemore readily understood, several embodiments thereof will now bedescribed, by way of example only and with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which- 1 Figures 1 and 2 are views showing one form of thebust support in position on a wearer as seen from the front and backrespectively;

Figure 3 shows a detail of the bust support shown in Figures 1 and 2 toa larger scale;

Figure 4 is a front view of a modification of the bust support shown inFigures 1 and 2;

Figure 5 is a front view of the bust support applied to a diaphragmcontrol belt;

Figure 6 is a rear view of the bust support applied to a corset;

Figure 7 is a-front view of a second form of the bust support, and

Figure 8 is a rear view of the bust support modified for use as amaternity garment.

Like reference numerals indicate like parts throughout all the figuresof the drawing.

Referring first to Figures 1 to 4, the bust support comprises two,roughly triangular breast supports 10 and 11 which are made of anysuitable material. The configurations of these breast supports will beapparent from Figure 4 and they are shaped to conform to the contour ofthe human breast. The two breast supports 10 and 11 which overlap oneanother so that their bottom edges 12 are coincident, are stitchedtogether along their bottom edges and the top edge of each is stitchedto the other at 13 and 14 respectively. The lines of stitching 13 and 14however extend only round the back and side of the garment and notacross the front thereof so that the front portions of the supports areonly secured together at their bottom edges and at the point where theirtop edges cross at which point they are caught together at 15. Twotab-like pieces 16 and 17 are stitched one onto each end of both breastsupports as shown and these pieces together with the lower portions ofbreast supports constitute a body girdle. The tab-like piece 16 is madeof any suitable material and provided with button-holes 18 or the like,the other piece is formed of elastic material and provided with buttons19 or the like and both pieces slope downwardly with respect to thebottom edge 12 of the garment which is slightly concave as shown inFigure 4. It has been found that the concave cut of the lower edge 12and slope of the pieces 16 and 17 results in a close fit when in use andeliminates any tendency for the bottom of the garment to become peakedin front. Thus far the garment shown in Figure 4 is identical with thatshown in Figures 1 to 3.

Referring now to Figures 1 to 3, two

shoulder straps 20 and 21 are provided each being stitched at one end tothe top edge of the back of the garment at 22 and 23 respectively andhaving a buckle 24 secured to its other end, the shape of which bucklewill be apparent from Figure 3. Suitable pieces of elastic 25 areinserted in each of the straps 20 and 21', as shown in Figure 2. Aconnecting strap 26 extends throughthe buckle 24 on the strap 20 asshown in Figure 3 and is stitched onto a top edge of the breast support10 at 28 and the top edge of the breast support 11 at 30, the points 28and 30 being so chosen that the breast support 10 is supported in anupward direction and the breast support 11 in a diagonal direction. Asimilar connecting strap 27 passes through the buckle on the strap 21and is secured to the breast support 11 at 29 and to the breast support10 at 31. It will be seen that the connect-ion between each shoulderstrap and both breast supports includes a running loop' constituted byone of the buckles and the corresponding connecting strap, so that theweight of each breast is distributed between both shoulders.

Referring to Figure 4, the shoulder straps 20 and 21 have 'the elasticpieces 25 inserted at a different position and are connected to thegarment at 22 and 23 respectively by a button and button-hole or likereadily detachable connection. Instead of the buckles and connectingstraps each is directly connected to the top edge of one breast su portby means of a similar readily-detachable fastening, the strap 20 beingconnected to the breast support 11 at 30 and the strap 21 to the breastsupport 10 at 31. The strap 20 extends through a loop 32 stitched ontothe breast support 10 at 28 and the strap 21 through a similar loop 33stitched onto the breast support 11 at 29. It will be. seen that withthis arrangement the shoulder straps can be changed when they becomesoiled before the garment itself is soiled, or in order that theircolourshould match the colour of the dress to be worn and it will beappreciated that the detachablefastenings may be provided in any of thegarments which are and four tabs 16 are provided, the tabs 16 and 17being in alignment with'the bottom edge 12 of the garment which isstraight instead of being curved. The two breast supports are stitchedtogether only along their bottom edges 12 and where they are connectedto the tabs, but it will be understood that it may be desirable in somecases to catch and/or stitch them together along a part of their upperedges as shown in Figure 4 or Figure 6. As illustrated, the garment isboned in front at 34 but this boning may be omitted if desired, andsuspenders may be provided as illustrated at 35.

Figure 6 illustrates the application of the invention to a corset, thearrangement of the shoulder straps again being as shown in Figures 1 to3. This garment comprises a piece of material 36 which forms the corsetand one of the breast supports (that corresponding to the breast support10) and is provided with suitable fastenings on its margins 42 and 43 sothat it can be fastened at the back of the wearer. It should be notedthat the margins 42 and 43 are shaped as shown at 142 and 143,respectively, in order to produce a waist enabling the garment to fitsnugly round the wearer without exerting a direct compression on thebreasts. This shaping serves the same purpose as the disposition ofthepieces 16 and 17 shown in Figure 4. The lower portionof this piecewhich forms the corset may be suitably boned or formed of elasticmaterial and the upper portion is shaped to conform to the human breast.The breast support corresponding to 11 is formed by a piece of material37 the bottom edge of which is shown at 38 and which extends the fullwidth of the top of the piece 36. The lower edge 38 of the breastsupport 37 is shown as having non-detachable fastenings.

stitched onto the corset'pieoe 36 at each side at 39 and 40, and the twopieces are also stitched together along the margins 42 and 43 and arecaught together at fivepoints 41, as shown. The customary suspenders maybe provided as shown at 35. It Will be appreciated that the wholegarment may be made of elastic ,material or elastic panels can beinserted wherever desired and that the garment can be arranged to fastenat the side instead of at the. back.

V Figure 7 illustrates a garment which is particularly suitable for wearduring athletic pursuits and each breast support is arranged to coverone breast and to reach diagonally over the other breast. The garmentcomprises two triangular shaped breast supports 44 and 45, the loweredges of which are stitched into a band 46 so as to leave a triangulargap between them, and a triangular piece of material 4'1 which isstitched at its lower edge onto" the band so as to close this gap. Theapex of the breast support 45 is formed with a slit 48 through which theapex of the breast support 44 reaches and the apex of the triangularpiece 47 is caught onto the breast formed with button-holes 18 issecured to the breast support 44 and an elastic tab-like piece 17provided with buttons 19 is secured to the breast support 45, thearrangement of these pieces and the shape of the lower edge ofthegarment being similar to that of the. garments shown in Figures 1 to4. The arrangement of the shoulder straps 20 and 21 is similar to thatshown in Fi ures 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6 except that the points 0 connection 22and 23 are nearer the back of that the points of connection 30 and 31are made to the apices of the breast supports and are readilydetachable. It will be seen that a button is provided at the apex ofeach breast support and that each 'of the connecting straps 26 and 27are provided with two button-holes,

If desired, the shoulder straps 20 and 21 ma be attached at 22 and 23respectivel by means of buttons or other readily detachable fasteningsas shown in Figure 4 so that they are removable.

lln Figure 8 is shown the adaptation of the garment shown in Figure 4 asa maternit garment. As a nursing mother might find it convenient andmore comfortable to adjust the length of the shoulder straps after shehas nursed her child, since the breast will then probably have becomeconsiderably reduced in size, the straps 20 and 21 are each providedwith two button-holes at their front ends so that the connection of thestraps to the breast supports at 30 and 31 can be adjusted. in orderthat one breast support ma fastened without disturbing the other, theloops 32 and 33 are permanently secured to support 45 at 49. A tab-likepiece 16 the wearer and thus enabling a variation in the f efiectivelength of the garment to'be made;

3 each loop and be un-;

two pockets 50, the tops 51 of which are open and which pockets have 52at their centres. In these pockets are received pads 53 of absorbentand/0r impervious material which can be readily removed through theopenings at 51 and are intendedto prevent exudation of milk from causingannoyance or damage. It will be noted that the loops 32 and 33 are shownas made of elastic, they may however be made of inelastic material ifdesired.

It is to be understood that the garments described have been selectedmerely as 'illustrating various embodiments of the invention and thedetail features of one garment can be substituted for the correspondingdetail features of another; it is also to be understood that manymodifications may be made in the arments described'without departingfrom the scope of the invention as set out in the claims, thus the mainor any part of any one of the garments may be made of elastic materialor pieces of such material ma be let in at any suitable place, or inplace 0 the buckle 24 any device serving the same purpose may be used.

I claim 1. A bust support, comprising two breast supports eachsubstantially triangular in shape and one overlapping the other on asubstantially. horizontal base line common to themboth, a pair ofshoulder straps, connec tions between each shoulder strap and bothbreast supports, and two running loops one a circular opening includedin each connection and arranged to distribute the support aiforded bythe allotted shoulder strap to both breast supports, sald connectionsbeing so arranged that a portlon of the weight of each breast is supportsling ashion from the opposite shoulder.

2. A bust support, comprising two breast y supports each substantiallytriangular in shape and one overlapping the other on a substantiallyhorizontal base line common .to them both, a pair of shoulder straps, aloop secured to the end of each shoulder strap and two connecting strapsone running through both so connected to both breast supports as todistribute the support afforded by each shoulder strap to both breastsupports.

3. A bust support, comprising two breast supports each substantiallytriangular in shape and one overlapping the other on a substantiallyhorizontal base line common to them both, each of which covers onebreast only and reaches diagonally across underneath the other breast tosupport a part of the weight thereof, a pair of shoulder straps, a loopsecured to the end of each shoulder at the other end by strap, and twoconnecting straps one running through each loop and both so connected toboth breast supports as to distribute the support afiorded-by eachshoulder strap to both breast supports, one point of connection of 5each strap to a, breastsupport being situated near the apex of thelatter.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

MARGARET FRANCES JANE LOWENFELD.

